Root and Soul opens at DeSoto Central Market in Phoenix on April 25

A whopping 37 new restaurants sprang up around Phoenix in March. That's one of the highest number of openings we've seen in one month since we started tracking restaurant openings almost six years ago.
Wochit

The Root and Soul, a contemporary soul food restaurant, opens at DeSoto Central Market in downtown Phoenix. The owner's family started Mrs. White's Golden Rule Cafe and LoLo's Chicken and Waffles.

Christian Buze is the owner of the Root and Soul at DeSoto Central Market.(Photo: Courtesy of the Root and Soul)

"Chef Buzz," as he is known, grew up helping his grandmother in the kitchen — Grandma being Elizabeth White, owner of Mrs. White's Golden Rule Cafe in Phoenix. His cousin is Larry White, who founded the popular LoLo’s Chicken and Waffles.

On Wednesday, April 25, Buze opens his own restaurant, a contemporary soul food spot, at DeSoto Central Market in downtown Phoenix. Called the Root and Soul, the concept replaces healthy-food spot Radish, which will now sell some items out of The Provisionary, another vendor at DeSoto.

Buze first got into the restaurant industry in 2012, when he launched the Buzznbeez food truck, serving a modern twist on Southern comfort dishes.

He left the food truck in 2015 and went into the car business as a sales manager, but he soon missed his true passion. So he looked for an opportunity, and found an opening at the food hall at Central Avenue and Roosevelt Street.

One of the waffle dishes that will be served at the Root and Soul.(Photo: Courtesy of Christian Buze)

"The building is incredible," he said. "The location is right in middle of Roosevelt's epicenter. There is such a diverse and eclectic group of people, and I'm supportive of the neighborhood as a native of Arizona."

Buze will bring new recipes inspired by his grandmother — and the experiences cooking with her in the kitchen — such as classic fried chicken and waffles. But there's a gluten-free version.